Photo: Sailko, CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Historic villa / palace
Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni
Palace located on Via de Tornabuoni on Piazza Trinita in central Florence
- Within the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Historic Centre of Florence”
At a glance
- Style
- Renaissance architecture
- Architect
- Baccio d'Agnolo
- Coordinates
- 43°46′13″ N, 11°15′06″ E
History and description
The Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni is a High Renaissance-style palace located on Via de' Tornabuoni on Piazza Trinita in central Florence, Italy.
Since 2018 the piano nobile of the palace hosts the Collezione Roberto Casamonti, an exhibition itinerary dedicated to modern and contemporary art from the late 19th century to the early 21st century.
History
The palace arose at the site which once held the residence of the Soldanieri and later Dati families, which was bought by Bartolomeo Bartolini-Salimbeni.
The current edifice was erected by the architect Baccio d'Agnolo between 27 February 1520 and May 1523, as testified by a diary kept by Bartolini. The architect was paid two florins per month. The structure represents one of the earliest buildings in Florence expressing the High Renaissance style of Rome, where Baccio had spent several formative years. Another palace partially designed by Baccio is the Palazzo Antinori.
The Bartolini-Salimbeni lived in the palace until the early 19th century. In 1839 it became the Hotel du Nord, where figures such as the American writer Herman Melville sojourned. In 1863 it was acquired by the Pio di Savoia princes and split between different owners.
The palace was restored in 1961 and it is now a private property.
Description
Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni is the first palace in Florence built according to the "Roman" Renaissance style: details new to the city included the portal with columns at the sides, the use of pilasters, the square windows with a triangular pediment and the corners with rustication.
The singular new style, according to the Renaissance art historian Giorgio Vasari, caused much criticism. Though a generation later Vasari praised it as gentile di membra, "noble in its detail", in response to contemporary Florentine criticisms Baccio had the Latin inscription set over the door Carpere promptius quam imitari, "Criticizing is easier than imitating". The windows bear another inscription, in Italian, Per non dormire ("[A reward] For not sleeping"), the motto of the Salimbeni family that is also recalled by the Bartolini-Salimbeni coat of arms in the frieze at the first floor, featuring three poppies.
The palace has a central court in pure Classical style. It has a portico on three sides, with columns and round arches in traditional pietra serena. The ground and first floors have grotesque monochrome decorations. The first floor has a loggia with a coffered ceiling. This is surmounted by another smaller loggia.
The San Romano Battle paintings, painted by Paolo Uccello, were commissioned by a member of the Bartolini Salimbeni family; they are dispersed and now displayed in the Uffizi, National Gallery and Louvre museums. …
Text from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Full article: «Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni».
People
Events and people from Wikidata (CC0).
Photos
Getting there
Firenze Santa Maria NovellaTrain, nearest
900 m as the crow flies
Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni
Aeroporto Firenze Amerigo Vespucci5.9 km
Distances are as the crow flies, not walking or driving.
Loading map…
Nearby
See on the mapMore historic villas and palaces in Tuscany
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
- UNESCO
- Free 1st Sunday
- Free 1st Sunday
Frequently asked questions
Where is Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni?
Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni is in Florence, in the province of Firenze (Tuscany), Italy. GPS coordinates: 43.77019, 11.25169.
What else is there to see near Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni?
Nearby you’ll find: Palazzo Buondelmonti (0 m away), Palazzo Scali-Ricasoli (0 m away), Palazzo Bartolini-Torrigiani (0 m away).
Sources and licences
Text. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Data. Wikidata (CC0); opening hours and contacts OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Photos. Wikimedia Commons, author and licence on every image.
Credits for the 9 photos
- Piazza di Santa Trinita 1 angolo via porta rossa e via delle terme, palazzo bartolini salimbeni, facciata 01 — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
- Baccio d'agnolo, portone principale da palazzo bartolini-salimbeni, 1517-20 ca. 01 — Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Firenze - Florence - Piazza Santa Trìnita - View East on Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni 1523 by Baccio d'Agnolo — Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Firenze - Florence - Piazza Santa Trìnita - View ENE on Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni 1523 by Baccio d'Agnolo & Colonna della Giustizia 1565 installed here — Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo bartolini salimbeni 11 — sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni, dettaglio fregio — sailko, CC BY 2.5
- Palazzo bartolini salimbeni, finestr2 — sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palazzo bartolini salimbeni, finestra, iscrizione 'per non dormire' 01 — Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palazzo bartolini salimbeni, lato, 01 — Sailko, CC BY 3.0
Updated 28 October 2026. All sources and licences